Serum anti-Müllerian hormone and ovarian morphology assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in response to acupuncture and exercise in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether electro-acupuncture or physical exercise influence serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC) or ovarian volume in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Secondary analyses of a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Setting: University Hospital, Sweden.

Patients: Seventy-four women with PCOS recruited from the general population.

Interventions: Women with PCOS were randomized to 16 weeks of electro-acupuncture (14 treatments), exercise (at least three times/week), or no intervention.

Main outcome measures: Serum AMH recorded at baseline, after 16 weeks of intervention, and at follow up at 32 weeks. AFC, and ovarian volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at follow up at 32 weeks.

Results: After 16 weeks of intervention, serum levels of AMH were significantly decreased in the electro-acupuncture group by 17.5% (p < 0.001), and differed from the change in the exercise group. AMH remained decreased by 15% (p = 0.004) also at follow up at 32 weeks, but did not differ from the exercise or the no intervention groups. There was a decrease by 8.5% (p = 0.015) in ovarian volume between baseline and follow up in the electro-acupuncture group, and by 11.7% (p = 0.01) in AFC in the physical exercise group. No other variables were affected.

Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that acupuncture reduces serum AMH levels and ovarian volume. Physical exercise did not influence circulating AMH or ovarian volume. Despite a within-group decrease in AFC, exercise did not lead to a between-group difference.

Keywords: Acupuncture; anti-Müllerian hormone hormone; exercise; magnetic resonance imaging; polycystic ovary syndrome.